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This course prepares advanced CCS major undergraduate students on the social science stream to research for their final year capstone research projects. The main product of the course will be a research proposal that will be ideally followed through to develop the final year paper to be submitted at the end of Term II. There are three aims to the course: 1) to gain familiarity with research methods of the various disciplines in the humanities and social sciences; 2) to explore several styles of scholarship; 3) to learn how to undertake an advanced university-level research project and produce an interesting, productive research proposal.

This workshop-style class will guide students to reach this objective step by step. Students will be introduced to fundamental concepts in qualitative and quantitative research methods and designs in the social sciences. These concepts will be discussed practically, by making students begin thinking about their own research topic, and by conducting data collection and analysis exercises. The mode of instruction is highly interactive and requires students to actively participate in class discussions, complete research exercises, make presentations, conduct peer review, and continuous work on their own projects. In the end of this course, students are required to present a revised research proposal, identifying interesting topics, compiling references, making bibliographies, formulating research questions, choosing appropriate research methods, and writing up research plans and goals.

Please note that, depending on the progress of learning, this syllabus may change during the course. Changes will be announced by the instructor in advance.

Week 1 (Sep. 3)            Introduction: Research on China

Week 2 (Sep. 10)          Research Matters

Week 3 (Sep. 17)          Academic Writing

Week 4 (Sep. 24)         Designing a Research Project

Week 5 (Oct. 1)             Holidays, National Day

Week 6 (Oct. 8)          Literature Review and Finding Sources

Week 7 (Oct. 15)          Survey Research

Week 8 (Oct. 22)        Interview

Week 9 (Oct. 29)          Research Week

Week 10 (Nov. 5)         Individual Consultation I

Week 11 (Nov. 12)      Individual Consultation II

Week 12 (Nov. 19)     Data Analysis

Week 13 (Nov. 26)      Proposal Presentation and Feedback I

Week 14 (Dec. 3)       Proposal Presentation and Feedback II [classroom to be announced]

Class Attendance and Participation    20%

Research Assignments                        20%

Project Presentation                            20%

Term Paper                                         40%

Attention is drawn to University policy and regulations on honesty in academic work, and to the disciplinary guidelines and procedures applicable to breaches of such policy and regulations. Details may be found at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/.